Romney attacked on flight from Vancouver

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Staff

Former governor Mitt Romney was attacked by a passenger on an Air Canada flight Monday morning.

The former 2008 Republican presidential hopeful had been in Vancouver since Friday for the Winter Olympics. He was attacked as he was leaving Vancouver with his wife, Ann, according to Romney’s spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom.

Romney, 62, reportedly asked the passenger sitting in front of his wife to raise his seat during takeoff after the passenger had reclined his seat. The man allegedly became violent and took a swing at the former 2008 presidential hopeful.

A Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, first reported the story, saying that Romney was “physically threatened” by a passenger.

"Gov. Romney did not retaliate, but instead allowed the airline crew to respond to the incident," Fehrnstrom said in a statement to the Globe.

Romney was not injured. The pilot returned to the gate, and the suspect was removed from the plane by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The same plane took off a short time later and later landed safely in Los Angeles.

Romney was the head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and was an honored guest at the 2010 games.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com